Building the Next Generation of Elevator Leaders with Amber Catlin-Kolodziej

In this episode of The Elevator Entrepreneur Podcast, I sit down with Amber Catlin-Kolodziej, Executive Director of the Elevator Escalator Safety Foundation.

Amber shares her journey from nonprofit leadership into the elevator space and we dive into one of her biggest passions—leadership.

We talk about the gap that exists when technicians move into management roles without the right leadership training, why leadership is a learned skill (not just a title), and how collaboration across generations can shape the future of our industry.

We also touch on storytelling, mentorship, and how technology like AI can support leadership without replacing the human connection that makes it so powerful.

If you’re working to strengthen your leadership mindset, this conversation is packed with takeaways and encouragement you won’t want to miss.

[00:02:00] Amber’s story
[00:05:00] The leadership gap between technical expertise and people management
[00:07:00] Competitors coming together to support each other
[00:09:30] Why new leaders often feel like they have to wear every hat
[00:11:00] Bridging the old guard’s expertise with the next generation’s energy
[00:13:30] The importance of storytelling in leadership development
[00:14:00] Finding the balance between AI/tech and human connection
[00:19:00] Amber’s golden nugget: leadership can be learned by anyone
[00:20:00] My thoughts on how leadership starts with mindset in every role